11/19/2025
Article about our Lady Braves for the upcoming season!
🏀 Garage Sports 2025-26 Central Buckeye Conference Girls Basketball Preview: Springfield Shawnee
Shawnee Looks to Turn Pressure into Progress
By Don Hensley
John Campbell doesn’t shy away from expectations. In fact, he welcomes them.
Entering his third season leading the Springfield Shawnee girls basketball program, Campbell knows exactly what his team needs if it hopes to rise from last year’s 5–17 finish and become a contender in the Mad River Division.
“For us to play at the highest level, we need to put pressure on ourselves to execute as a team,” Campbell said. “This will require every player to give their best at their specific role.”
If Shawnee is going to take a step forward, that step begins in the hands of junior point guard Lily Wilson, a three-year letterwinner and the engine that makes the Braves go. Wilson earned second-team all-league honors last season after averaging 11.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and recording 56 steals. With that defensive production, she enters the winter on track to break the school’s career steals record — a milestone her coach believes is no accident.
Wilson will also be asked to do a little more scoring this season, filling the void left by Chloe Reese, who graduated after averaging more than 14 points per game.
“I’m excited for this season,” Campbell added. “Yes, we have to replace our leading scorer, but we have multiple players who are excited for the challenge.”
Among those returners is sophomore forward Adalyn Beach, who quietly developed into one of Shawnee’s most dependable players last year, averaging 4.5 points and 6.8 rebounds. She’ll again be a key presence inside. Joining her are junior Phoebe Fout (3.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and sophomores Addie Garberich (1.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Reese Blauvelt, all expected to play meaningful minutes.
But the most intriguing piece of the Braves’ puzzle might be their youth. Campbell expects five freshmen to compete for varsity time — rare for any program, and a sign that Shawnee’s talent pipeline is filling quickly.
“So much of the offseason has been spent making sure we’re communicating and on the same page,” Campbell said. “When you have that much youth, cohesion becomes everything.”
Shawnee will need it. With the Mad River Division packed with returning experience across the board, the Braves know they’ll be tested early and often.
“Our conference will be competitive from top to bottom,” Campbell said. “But I like where we’re headed.”
***Pre-Order your copy of the CBC Girls Basketball Guide with a comment or DM. Hard Copies are $20 picked up (available at JC Sports) or $25 mailed. Guides will be available the first week of December***